Government funds research to replace animal tests

Friday, 21 May 2004 12:00 AM

The Government is funding research designed to reduce the scientific community's reliance on animal experiments.

It will provide cash for a new centre to conduct research into ways to replace the use of animals in experiments, reduce suffering through refined procedures and to minimise the number of animals used.

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury announced a grant of £600,000 for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. He said: "While I believe that animals still need to be used in research and testing, I also believe strongly that a major opportunity now exists to make progress in replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals and improving their welfare."

The UK already has a rigorous licensing system for animal experiments, according to Home Office Minister Caroline Flint. She said the new centre "will also lead the important work on promoting the welfare of animals used in scientific procedures."

The centre's mission is to replace animal testing; but whilst it remains necessary, "ensuring that laboratory welfare is optimised is critical for scientific, legal and ethical reasons."

It will expand on the work of the existing Centre for the Best Practice for Animals in Research (CBPAR) to develop a UK strategy, undertake research into alternative testing methods and provide guidance for the rest of the scientific community.

News of the centre received a mixed reception. Animal Aid director Andrew Tyler said the announcement is, "intended as a sop to the increasing number of people who oppose animal experiments on the grounds that they are both cruel and irrelevant to the needs of human medicine."

"The only R that has any merit is Replacement - given that experimenting on other species produces results that cannot be reliably applied to people."

Dr Phillip Wright, director of science at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said: "The industry already has good links with CBPAR and we are very much looking forward to working constructively with the new centre."

"We are confident that this will add further impetus to the many initiatives under way that aim to replace the number of animals used in medicines research with other methods, reduce those that still have to be used and further refine procedures to ensure even higher welfare standards."

"We are still many years away from being able completely to replace the use of animals in research" he warned.

Professor Barry Keverne, chair of the Royal Society's animals in research committee, welcomed the increase in funding from the Government.

He said: "Animal research only takes place after careful evaluation and within a framework of robust controls."

"However, the use of non-animal alternatives may not be appropriate for some types of research, and so experiments involving animals are permitted provided that they are designed to keep pain and suffering to a minimum."

A board chaired by Lord Turnberg, Scientific Adviser to the Association of Medical Research Charities, will govern the centre.

It is anticipated that representatives from animal welfare groups, the scientific community and the government will also take seats on the board. Aside from the government funding, running costs will be met by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

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